Chapter 10 – Secrets, Storms, and a Wild Vora Appears
The car rolled to a slow stop as they arrived at an open, secluded ground just outside the dense forests of Ghanekhadi. The morning mist still lingered in the air, casting an eerie silence over the place. The rustling leaves and distant bird calls were the only sounds, but something felt… off.
Yash stepped out, hands shoved into his pockets, scanning the area with mild disinterest. "So, what exactly are we doing in the middle of nowhere? Shouldn't we be heading to a hotel first?"
Mithra shot him a flat look. "This isn't a vacation."
Yash groaned. "Yeah, yeah. You keep saying that, but you haven't actually explained what we're doing here."
Before Mithra could respond, the deep rumbling sound of helicopter blades cutting through the air made them all look up.
The wind picked up, dust swirling as the helicopter descended onto the open ground before them. The sheer dramatics of the scene made Yash squint.
"Well… that's unnecessary."
As the chopper's door swung open, a man stepped out—a slightly chubby, fair-skinned guy wearing thick-framed glasses and an annoyingly confident grin. He adjusted his specs as he descended, his posture exuding casual arrogance.
Yash's expression shifted from confusion to pure disbelief.
"No. Fucking. Way."
The guy in question—none other than Samay Vora—burst into laughter the second he saw Yash. "Oh ho! Look who it is!"
Without hesitation, Yash marched forward and punched Samay in the gut—not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make Samay double over slightly, still laughing.
"You bastard!" Yash exclaimed. "You—of all people—had supernatural connections this whole time and never told me?!"
Samay, still chuckling, straightened his glasses. "Bro, you're acting like I cheated on you or something."
"You might as well have!" Yash shot back. "You let me suffer through engineering while you were sitting on actual superpowers?"
Samay smirked. "And here you are, standing with Mithra Varma herself, looking like you belong in this world."
Yash crossed his arms. "Yeah, yeah. Long story."
Samay tilted his head. "Oh? Well, we've got time. Tell me."
Yash sighed and gave him a quick recap of everything—from the chai electrocution to discovering his powers to meeting Mithra. By the end, Samay was blinking in stunned silence.
"Well, damn," Samay said finally, shaking his head. "Congrats on joining the main storyline, bro."
Before Yash could respond, Abhishek, who had been standing back grinning like an idiot, stepped in. "You know, technically, I should be getting credit for this. If it wasn't for my cursed reel, Yash wouldn't have gotten his powers in the first place."
The trio burst into laughter, the warmth of old friendships overshadowing the tension in the air.
Mithra, watching from the sidelines, rubbed her temples. Why am I surrounded by idiots?
Yet, despite her frustration, her Ajna chakra subtly activated—giving her a deeper glimpse into the emotions around her. Yash's laughter, his genuine happiness at reuniting with his old friend, was… contagious.
For a brief moment, her heart skipped.
She quickly shook her head. No. Absolutely not. Not happening.
Yash's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "Oi, Queen Varma, you good?"
Mithra blinked, realizing she had been staring. Her cheeks heated slightly, but she masked it with an unimpressed glare. "Don't call me that."
Yash smirked. "You keep saying that, yet you still respond."
Mithra exhaled sharply. This is going to be a long day.
As they gathered near the helicopter, Yash turned to Samay. "Alright, enough fun. What's your story? Since when did the Vora family become lightning gods?"
Samay pushed up his glasses, grinning. "Since the Dvapara Yuga."
Yash raised an eyebrow. "The hell does that mean?"
Samay clasped his hands behind his back. "The Vora family is one of the oldest supernatural bloodlines in India, our lineage tracing back to the times of the Mahabharata. Our ancestor was blessed by God Indra himself, granting our bloodline a unique affinity for lightning and light-based abilities."
Yash whistled. "Damn. That's actually cool."
"Not just cool," Samay said proudly. "It makes us one of the strongest families in India."
Abhishek raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you a little too smug about this?"
Samay shrugged. "What can I say? When you've got literal divine blessings, you tend to have a little bit of an ego."
Yash snorted. "Yeah, yeah. Divine blessings, secret abilities, and yet, you still got your ass kicked in college by me in poker."
Samay groaned. "That was one time!"
Abhishek clapped his hands. "Alright, children, focus. We've got a mission."
Mithra, already tired of their antics, cleared her throat. "The people who attacked me last time—they're hiding somewhere in this area. Our job is to find them."
Yash crossed his arms. "And how exactly do we do that?"
Mithra's eyes glowed faintly as she activated her Ajna chakra. "I have a lead. There's a distortion in the energy flow about seven kilometers east. That's our best starting point."
Samay cracked his knuckles, electricity sparking around his fingertips. "Sounds like fun."
Yash smirked. "You would say that."
Abhishek checked his watch. "We should get moving before nightfall."
The group began heading towards their vehicles when Yash suddenly stopped.
"Wait a second." He turned to Mithra. "I get why you called Abhishek. This is his family's territory. But why did you reach out to Samay?"
Mithra's expression darkened slightly. "Because there's a bigger reason."
Yash's gaze hardened. "Then tell me. Now."
Mithra blinked. The playful sarcasm in his voice was gone—replaced with a commanding tone she wasn't used to hearing from him.
She crossed her arms, unimpressed. "And if I don't?"
Yash took a step forward, voice unwavering. "Then I don't help you. Simple as that."
Mithra's confidence flickered for the first time. "You don't have a purpose here. I only brought Abhishek and Samay—"
"Let's see if they help you without me."
Mithra scoffed, but when she turned to the other two, her expression faltered.
Abhishek and Samay were both looking at Yash.
Not at her.
It was instinctive. Even though Yash was the goofiest of the three, he was always the one taking the lead. And despite their powerful backgrounds, both of them trusted him, waiting for his decision.
Mithra clenched her fists. Why is he like this?
She sighed, finally giving in. "Fine. I'll tell you."
Yash held her gaze, waiting.
Mithra exhaled. "Something far worse is at play but I can't tell you everything now until I am certain."
Before Yash could press further, Mithra turned, walking toward the car.
The tension in the air thickened.
Yash exchanged a glance with Abhishek and Samay.
"…Well," Samay said, adjusting his glasses. "That doesn't sound ominous at all."
Yash exhaled. "Guess we'll find out soon enough."
As they got into their vehicles, ready to head toward the unknown, the wind picked up, dark clouds rolling in the distance.
A storm was brewing.
Both in the skies—
And in the shadows.
-[End]-